Basic Stitches in Crocheting

With the recent popularity resurgence in knitting and crocheting, there are limitless options available for yarns and fibers which you can quickly and easily crochet into an heirloom baby blanket.  And, the best thing is that many of today’s yarns and fibers are dyed colors which lend themselves well to making a baby blanket.  With the soft pinks, light blues and mellow yellow yarns, you can be sure to match any nursery decorations the new parents may have done. 

When making a blanket for a baby, here are some points to consider

Yarn Selection – When you are making an item for a baby you want to find a yarn or fiber which is both soft and machine washable.  New parents are often too tired and over-extended to spend time hand washing items.  And, because babies can be very messy, it is essential that anything they come into contact with can be successfully washed. 

No Beadwork – While beadwork is popular in today’s knitting and crocheting patterns, beads are never appropriate for a baby item.  A baby can loosen them and they can become a choking hazard. 

The adding of Beads to your crochet projects

No instruction about beading crochet would be complete without a warning about babies.  If you are crocheting baby items, they are not appropriate for beading.  The baby’s hands can work beads loose and they are a possible choking hazard if swallowed.  The best way to deal with this is to avoid the issue all together by not adding beads to your baby crochet items. 

While you are selecting beads, take care to decide on the quality of the beads and the wear they may receive.  If your item will be machine washed then it is a good idea to stick with sturdy beads.  If your item will be hand washed then you can use more delicate beads.  Whatever your choice in beads, make sure you use quality beads so they will last the lifetime of your finished crochet project. 

The knitting yarn selection

Yarn selection for your knitting projects is a much more complicated process than simply selecting a color which appeals to you.  While yarn color clearly matters, the most important thing about the yarn you select is that it matches your project and that it is the highest quality available in your price range.  The product you end up with is a direct result of the yarn you choose; if you choose quality you will have a quality end product, if you choose a lesser yarn it will show in the quality of your finished work.

When you are looking at yarn for a particular pattern, make sure that you understand the fiber content and structure as well as the gauge of the suggested yarn.  If you are going to substitute another yarn it is important to match the fiber content, structure and the gauge of the new yarn to the one suggested in the pattern.  If you do not do this, then your end project will not come out as you expected.